The battle that saved Formula 1

It may not have decided the championship, but the thrilling 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix saved Formula 1 from plunging into a much deeper crisis, says JONATHAN NOBLE

There's little doubt that in terms of the dynamics of the Formula 1 title battle, it was the clash between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix that proved to be the key moment of the campaign.

The way that Mercedes management came down hard on both drivers - and in particular how Rosberg was widely perceived as being the less-innocent party - took the bad blood out of their rivalry, which seemed to help Hamilton step up a gear. The Briton was dominant after that, winning six of the remaining seven races.